Phonography.



I. KITSEB.

PHONOGKAPHY. APPLICATION FILED JUHE 11, 1998.. I 903,200. Patgnted Nov. 10,1908.

LINES OF RECORD PRODUCED WITH NoN-coNDucTmm; MATERIAL. ON ELECTF?OCONDUCTIVE 5ASE- BASE WITH RECORD THEPQEON MADE ANoDE OF ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS;

BASE AS ANCDE SUBJECTEID TO ELECTROLYTIC ACTION- BASE WASHED AFTER ELEC" TROLYTIC A/QITION- Sum/tot Wil'nmseo W a, fimzz,

U ATENT @FFTQE.

ISIDOR KITSEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PHONOG-RAPHY.

.new and useful Improvements in Phonograhy, of whichythe following is a specificatron.-

My invention relates to an improvement in phonography. Its object is to produce permanent records in "a .simple and efiicient manner.

' The first step in practicing my invention is to produce the lines of record with a nonconducting material on a conducting support.

v For the purpose of'my invention, it is immaterial if the non-conducting material consists. of a fluid or a solid and it is immate-- rial if these lines of record are marked on the support with actual contact of the stylus or writing means, or without actual contact of said stylus; but 'it is 'necessarythat the support should be conducting and the lines of record non-conducting, and I prefer that the suppoit should be ametallic plate, such for instance as 'a' plate of copper, and if a fluid is used for making the llnes of record,

the same may consist of a liquid containing dissolved shellac or other resinous matter, and it'is preferred that this fluid should be colored so that the lines of record may be made. visible to the eye of the operator.

After the lines of record have been produced and the ink (if such is used) has dried, the plate with its record lines is made the anode of an electrolytic apparatus, and if a copper plate is employed, the electrolyte should preferably consist of a diluted solution of sulfate of copper. The cathode may consist of any suitable material in any preferred shape. When a current of electricity is: sent through this apparatus, such parts of-the cathode as are left free from the recording lines will be eaten away and such parts as are covered by the non-con ducting lines are left in their original state.

When it is found that the spaces between the lines are deepened enough, thenthe plate is taken out and washed, and maybe used to produce copies therefrom.

I am aware, that records have been pro- Specific ation of Letters Patent. Application filed June 11, 1908. Serial No. 437,924.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

duced 011 metallic plates with a ,material adapted to resist the action of anfetching fluid and that then the plate is subjected to a process. whereby the material left free is eaten out-so to speakby the acid, butin practice, it was found that even the improved etching processes are not capable of producing a cleardemarcation between the lines and the etched out material and when such plates are subjected to microscopic examination, it is found that the edges of the line are ragged and the sound produced ,from such records is not as clear as desired.

Experiments have proven that'if'instead of the etching fluid, the action of the current is made to difierentiate the height between the lines of record and theother parts of the plate, the lines are more clearly defined and do not have the ragged edges as with the etching process.

Difierent densities of current may be used, but I found that it is best to use a very small ampe'age, such. for instance as one ampere to ten square inches exposed. The smaller the current, the longer time is required to produce the necessary result.

In theaccompanying drawing is disclosed a diagram illustrating the steps of the herein described method.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The method of producing permanent sound'records, which consists in first forming on an electro-conductive base a variable line of non-conducting material in 'accordance with the variations of sound waves, then making said base the anode of an electrolytic apparatus, and subjecting the base, While still the anode of the electrolytic apparatus, to the action of a current of elec tricity flowing through said apparatus.

2. The method of producing permanent sound records, which consists in first forming on the surface of a metallic plate a variable line of non-conducting material in ac cordance with the variations of sound waves, and then causing the free surface of said plate to be ionized through the action of an:

electric current in an electrolytic apparatus.

3. The method of producing permanent sound records, which consists in first forming on an electr'o-conductive base a .variable In testimony whereof I affix my signature hne of non-conductlng material 111 accordin presence of two wltnesses. ance with the varlations of sound Waves, and

then differentiating in height the lines of ISIDORYKITSEE' record and the free surface of said base Witnesses: a through the ionizing action of an electric MAR G. SMITH,

current in an electrolytic apparatus. v EDITH'R. STILLEY. 

